Penioni Tagituimua Explained

Peni Tagituimua
Fullname:Penioni Tagituimua
Birth Date:20 January 1999
Birth Place:Suva, Central Division, Fiji
Height:175cm (69inches)
Weight:90kg (200lb)
Year1start:2020
Year1end:present
Yearastart:2019
Appearancesa:1
Triesa:0
Goalsa:0
Fieldgoalsa:0
Pointsa:0
Yearbstart:2019
Yearbend:present
Appearancesb:8
Triesb:2
Goalsb:0
Fieldgoalsb:0
Pointsb:8
Teamc:Fiji 9s
Yearcstart:2019
Appearancesc:3
Triesc:0
Goalsc:0
Fieldgoalsc:0
Pointsc:0
New:yes
Source:[1]
Updated:10 November 2023

Penioni Tagituimua (born 20 January 1999) is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or for the Kaiviti Silktails in the Ron Massey Cup and Fiji at international level.

Playing career

Tagituimua began playing rugby league in 2013 for the Nadera Panthers.

While attending Suva Grammar School in 2015, he was awarded a three-year rugby union scholarship at Ellesmere College.[2] [3]

In 2019, Tagituimua was the only player from the Fijian domestic competition to be included in 's squad for their mid-season match against . Initially selected to be the 18th man, a number of injuries and unavailabilities allowed him to make his Test debut off the interchange bench in the 56–14 win.[4] [5] In November, Tagituimua played off the interchange bench in both of Fiji's Oceania Cup matches.

Tagituimua joined the Kaiviti Silktails for their inaugural season in 2020, scoring twice[6] in their first and only match of the COVID-19 affected year.

In 2021, Tagituimua was named the captain of the Kaiviti side.[7]

On 23 May 2021, he made his NSW Cup debut after being called into the North Sydney Bears' team to play Mounties.[8]

In the second group stage match of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Tagituimua scored two tries for Fiji in their 60-4 victory over Italy.[9]

Personal life

Tagituimua's father Ilaitia is a pastor and was a spiritual adviser for the Fijian team at the 2008, 2013, and 2017 Rugby League World Cups.[10] Tagituimua's uncle Nemani Matirewa was a Fijian dual-code rugby international who was a pioneer of rugby league in the country.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Penioni Tagituimua. Rugby League Project.
  2. Web site: Mannan. Justine. 18 September 2015. Scholarships For Trio. Fiji Sun. 30 April 2021.
  3. News: Talebula Kate. 4 July 2019. Tagituimua sets target. Fiji Times. 30 April 2021.
  4. Web site: 17 June 2019. Local based halfback to make Fiji Bati debut. RNZ News. 23 June 2019.
  5. Web site: 22 June 2019. Fiji vs Lebanon. Wide World of Sports. 23 June 2019.
  6. Web site: Nasokia. Waisea. 15 March 2020. Silky Silktails. Fiji Sun. 30 April 2021.
  7. Web site: McDonald. Margie. 25 March 2021. The secret Silktails skipper carried for 10 days. nswrl.com.au. 30 April 2021.
  8. News: Cabenatabua. Leone. 23 May 2021. Tagituimua in NSW Cup debut. Fiji Sun. Suva. 24 May 2021.
  9. Web site: Rugby League World Cup: Fiji thrash Italy 60-4. www.bbc.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Nasokia. Waisea. 13 January 2021. ‘League For Me, Just Like Dad’. Fiji Sun. 30 April 2021.
  11. Web site: Tuinuku. Eroni. 5 February 2020. Tagituimua eyes brighter league future. Fiji Times. 30 April 2021.